For the past four years I have worked near the site of the famous Ambassador Hotel, beloved Los Angeles landmark. In 2001 the Los Angeles Unified School District bought the site to build a new school, with the plan to demolish the entire historic structure. This prompted a lawsuit by the Los Angeles Conservancy, which was settled in 2005, clearing the way for the demolition of most, but not all, of the structure.

When I learned of the settlement, I began photographing the demolition for posterity. These images will be donated to the Conservancy for use in future preservation efforts. “Don’t let this happen to your historic building,” will be the message. What follow are my favorite of hundreds of images I took for this project, The Death of the Ambassador.

I met Robert and his wife Robin at the Ambassador Wake earlier this month -- both really good people.

4 Comments:

Anonymous said...

The Original Wilshire sign is still there! It's beneath the current one(that they are tearing down)! Check it out!!! It is seriously amazing to see the AMBASSADOR HOTEL letters running down the side after nearly 28 years.

Someone with a camera should get down there now! They're tearing down the big concrete pillar that held the hotel's sign... and underneath the concrete is the original sign. I doubt it will be there for long, so someone should snap a pic ASAP.

Robert Peate's photos of the Ambassador Hotel are magnificant in their variety and detail. For example, one photo shows a structure crawling with people who are playing their part in the final hours of the hotel, while another photo shows the hotel standing alone in brooding silence at sunset. We are granted a glimpse of the last moments of this once beautiful structure because Robert Peate took the time and energy to share these photos with us. I salute him, other photographers who contributed their photos, and The Ambassador's Last Stand for documenting the final days of this wonderful historic landmark.